It's never too early to talk playoffs

With only two weeks to go until the District 1 Class AAA and Class AAAA playoffs I thought it was time to see how area teams are holding up against the rest of the district in terms of how many teams are likely to go to the playoffs. A lot will depend on the outcomes of the next two weeks, but it is never too early to talk everybodyís favorite topic: playoffs.

Downingtown East likely will be the top seed in Class AAAA and the Cougars have the most firepower of any District 1 team. Questions linger about the Cougarsí defense and head coach Mike Matta knows that to win in November you have to run the ball and play very good defense.

Coatesville may be playing the best of any area team right now, and defensively the Red raiders have only given up 13 points over the last four games. The Red Raiders will be a very tough out come playoff time.

Downingtown West is in if they it wins one of its last two games of the regular season. Whippet boss Mike Milano has done a superb job of pulling a largley inexperienced bunch to the cusp of the playoffs. Might we see a D-Town East vs. D-West first-round game if the Whippets cannot beat Coatesville tonight?

Unionville has been a little inconsistent this year, but the Indians have wins against W.C. Rustin and Souderton. The Indians have a big one with Kennett next week, and if the Indians win there and beat Octorara tonight, then Unionville will host a first-round game.

W.C. Rustin did a couple of things this season that do not happen very often. That is, losing to Henderson and Unionville. But, the Golden Knights are a solid Mike St.Clair type of team that runs the football well and plays good defense. Two more wins and Rustin likely gets a first-round home game also.

Kennett is the wild card here. If the Blue Demons beat Oxford tonight, then defeat Unionville, they should get in because of the bonus points they will get from a win over the Indians. Kennett would likely be the 16th seed and have to travel to Kottmeyer Stadium to face the top-seeded Cougars. Oh well, the American Division better get used to these crossover games anyway.

Conestoga has a very tall task. The Pioneers have to slow down a Haverford offense that averges over 35 points a game and then win its final game and then get some help to get into the tournament.

And in Class AAA, all West Chester Henderson has to do is beat Avon Grove and the Warriors will be in the top eight. Even if the Warriors lose to Downingtown East next week, they will be in. It will be very close for the Warriors to see if they get a first-round home game. My prediction is they come in as the four seed and host a five seed at J.Oscar Dicks Stadium.

So, permutations aside, trying to calculate these playoff points is a rigorous task. But it is something every area player, coach and fan looks forward to.

And whatever happened to the day a team played 11 games and then played its rival on Thanksgiving Day?